5 things to know about visiting Salem in October, from crowds to travel

Once October arrives, an influx of spooky season enthusiasts flock to Salem, otherwise known as “The Witch City.”

The Halloween destination welcomes more than 1 million visitors every October, and even set a record last year with 1,040,600 visitors, an 8.6% increase over October 2023.

Executive Director of Destination Salem Ashley Judge told MassLive this annual statistic “has been on the climb” ever since 2020. She also expects it to continue to go up in the coming years.

That said, visiting Salem in October can be extremely scary, especially for those who haven’t been before.

So to help prospective visitors — new and returning — ensure they have the best Salem experience possible, here are five things they should know.

Don’t drive

Judge said that visitors should “skip the traffic and the parking headaches” by taking public modes of transportation into Salem rather than driving and parking, which can be difficult and is often more expensive.

The Commuter Rail or Salem Ferry are good methods for getting into the city with ease, and generally cost less than parking in a garage or lot. Additionally, these parking options are completely filled by the morning.

Those who choose to drive should download the Passport Parking app for a smoother parking experience. They can also park at a nearby “T” station — such as Beverly or Manchester — and then take the train into Salem. Those who live on the outskirts can also take the Salem Skipper, blue bikes or utilize the free October shuttle bus. Taking an Uber, Lyft or other rideshare options from nearby are also good options. Once people are in Salem, it’s easier to navigate.

“It’s really like one city mile, so you can get to absolutely everything that you want to see,” Judge said.

More information about parking and shuttles can be found here.

Be prepared, but also flexible

Whenever possible, visitors should make reservations and buy tickets for their Salem excursions ahead of time. Many experiences sell out days or even weeks in advance, so making reservations “is going to make for a better experience,” according to Judge.

“If you are cool with eating from a street vendor and people watching, then go for it,” she said while mentioning that some visitors would rather just play their experience by ear.

“But if you have any aspirations to go into anything, then I wouldn’t do it,” Judge added. “I think you’re going to enjoy yourself more if you plan and then also just stay flexible.”

That said, many restaurants in Salem are first-come, first-serve and don’t take reservations. So those who plan on going to one spot might have to adjust. That is why visitors are encouraged to be open to trying new places and changing plans on the fly.

Know where to escape crowds

While it’s impossible to completely avoid crowds while visiting Salem in October, there are some ways that people can have a bit more elbow room. Judge said visitors should consider a going on a weekday because “they are generally less crowded and can offer a more relaxed experience.”

“Coming on a Monday or a Tuesday is a way to kind of navigate that,” she added.

While Judge said that Salem doesn’t really have a “slow” time in October, she did say that visitors should arrive “super, super early” to have a calmer experience before the crowds form.

“If you come at 7 in the morning, you can at least get your cup of coffee, get your parking spot, but there won’t be much more to do,” she said. “There is a lot to do in the late morning. There are still a lot of tours, a lot of attractions. There’s a lot you can do in that 10 o’clock time slot on a Tuesday and really have a great experience.”

Visitors are also encouraged to venture out of downtown Salem and head to Pickering Wharf and the waterfront.

“We have such a gorgeous waterfront and there’s just so much to do down at Pickering Wharf in the harbor walk area,” Judge said, adding that visitors may have more luck getting into a restaurant in those areas as well.

“It’s definitely less crowded down by the water,” she added. “We got Funhouse Donuts and we’ve got The House of Seven Gables and you can have a drink by the ferry and Jaho and Bit Bar. So there’s so much more than just Essex Street, too.”

Overall, Salem has over 20 museums, dozens of walking and trolley tours, and tons of late-night events from haunted houses to ghost tours to live music. Prospective visitors can check the Haunted Happenings events calendar to see what’s happening during the week. They can also download the visitor guide to help build their itinerary.

Dress appropriately

Judge said that visitors should “dress for the weather and the walk” when visiting Salem. They are encouraged to bring layers, wear comfortable shoes and be ready for October’s ever-changing forecast. Destination Salem says one day in Salem can often include several miles of walking.

Halloween fanatics should be especially mindful of how they dress when putting together their costumes, which are permitted but come with some restrictions. The Salem Police Department always likes to remind visitors that realistic impersonations of police officers and federal agents can jeopardize public safety and could even constitute a crime.

Download the Destination Salem app

A great way to navigate Salem, especially for first-time visitors, is to download the Destination Salem app. Not only does it have a map and list events, the app also has a built-in restroom finder and information about attractions, ticketing and parking shuttles. It also gives users the option to set up push notifications when garages are full or streets are shut down, which Judge said will be a common theme this year.

“Safety is always a priority for the city, but this year we’re stepping it up even more with hard barriers so there will be even more roads shut down and so you can get those kinds of notifications on the app,” she said.

More information about planned road closures for Salem in October can be found here.